Michelle
Lee, a
leading candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th
District,
is featured in a debate on the future of copper nickel mining in
Minnesota sponsored by the Citizens League. Lee was just one of four
people to engage in the forum, along with representatives of the
mining industry, environmental advocacy groups and a coalition of
labor, community and business leaders who support copper nickel
mining.

Lee
believes the pursuit of copper-nickel mining in Minnesota for
economic development is unsustainable and shortsighted, and offered
several arguments supporting her position:

•
Copper
nickel mines are being proposed by foreign-owned corporations with a
record of environmental degradation an ill treatment of workers

•
The
jobs ostensibly created by copper nickel mining will be impacted by
automation and are limited to the 20 to 25 year life of the mine

•
Pristine
water and land attracts tourism and generates wealth. Copper nickel
mining exposes these invaluable resources to too much risk

Each
of the debate participants presented their arguments and were then
questioned by the editors of the Citizens League Voice
magazine.
Lee stated that there’s a misconception about her opposition to
copper nickel mining, that she’s against jobs and unions. “People
want and need jobs,” Lee said. “They want and need good-paying
jobs. And, they want to
support economic development so that they can live, work and play in
the Northland.” Lee questions whether residents
believe copper nickel mining is the answer.

When
asked about the jobs that would be created during the mining process,
Lee questioned whether there was a shortage
or workers or a shortage of jobs. “I’m hearing we have a shortage
of trained workers,” she said. “When I travel the state I see
‘Help Wanted’ signs for truck drivers, for welders, for
electricians. It’s the trades that are desperate for workers.”
Lee suggests it’s time to “flip the switch” and advocate for
greater vocational and trade enrollments as an alternative
to a traditional college education.

The
complete debate story can be found at www.citizensleague.org/voice

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